Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? It’s welcome through email to lbordelon@gannett.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

Author Mark Haynes to speak at The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library

STAUNTON – Staunton locals can gain historical perspective from author Stan Haynes at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum on Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

Haynes has written three books on the history of presidential nominating conventions. The New Yorker has called Haynes “the most exhaustive chronicler of the conventions.”

His most recent book, Roosevelt to Roosevelt, includes the Wilson era of presidential politics. According to the press release, Wilson emerged as the Democratic Party’s nominee for president in 1912 after a hard-fought battle that required forty-six ballots. He was renominated in 1916 as he attempted to keep the United States out of the First World War.

This event is free, with voluntary donations accepted.  This presentation will also be available virtually via Zoom. Please register on the Woodrow Wilson website here.

Is your Staunton street part of the repaving project?

STAUNTON – Residents should be watching for street repaving throughout Staunton for the immediate future.

“The exact date, time, and sequence of work are unknown,” reads the city’s press release. “It is difficult to set an exact schedule because timing is subject to change as a result of inclement weather conditions and operational delays. When possible, cones will be placed along the streets one to two weeks before roadwork begins letting community members know a start date for that specific section of roadwork.”

For example, work began on Guy Street on May 9. The full list of streets to be repaved include:

• Rose Hill Circle from Baldwin Drive to Rainbow Drive

• Stuart Street from Bridge Street to Montgomery Avenue

• Peck Street from Montgomery Avenue to Austin Avenue

• Chrysler Street from Austin Avenue to Hays Avenue

• Fox Hill Dive from Essex Drive to end

• Richardson Street from Stuart Street to West Johnson Street

• Gray Avenue from Third Street to West Beverley Street

• Guy Street from Ranson Street to Plunkett Street

• Fourth Street from Grubert Avenue to D Street

• Winchester Avenue from Statler Boulevard to Statler Boulevard

• Bridge Street from C&O Flats to Middlebrook Avenue

• Copeland Drive from Baldwin Drive to Rainbow Drive

• Taylor Street from East Beverley Street to North Coalter Street

• Chesley Place from North Belmore Avenue

• Kinzley Court from Montgomery Avenue to end

Raised median, sidewalks coming to Lee-Jackson Highway

STAUNTON – Upgrades are coming for the 12,000 daily drivers on Lee-Jackson Highway.

The $3.3 million project is expected to improve safety and reduce accidents along the highway from its intersection with Rolling Thunder Lane (Route 1049), through the interchange with Route 262, and on to the intersection with Barterbrook Road near Staunton.

Currently, Lee-Jackson Highway (Route 11) has two lanes in each direction and a center turning lane. The project will replace the turn lane with raised medians, only allowing left turns at designed places.

A sidewalk will also be built along the eastern side of the highway from Frontier Drive to existing sidewalk near Staunton city limits. A citizen information meeting will be held on the project on May 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Dairy Barn Lecture Hall at the Frontier Culture Museum. The address is 1290 Richmond Avenue, Staunton. The goal of the meeting is to gather public comment for the project on a “one-to-one” basis with VDOT staff.

More information can be found on the project at on VDOT's website.

According to a press release from the Department of Transportation, this portion of Route 11 gets an average of 12,127 vehicles every day.

New batting cage at former New Hope Elementary School park

NEW HOPE – The Augusta County Board of Supervisors approved funding a recently completed renovation to batting cages at the former New Hope Elementary School.

The New Hope and Weyers Cave Youth Sports Association paid for the renovations, including excavation and a freshly-poured concrete pad. The organization serves at least 225 youth through several levels of youth recreational baseball and softball leagues.

“That is a good group down there,” said Supervisor Gerald Garber. “It’s a hardworking bunch.”

The supervisors approved $8,220 to reimburse the organization for the Custom Contracting of Virginia LLC invoice.

Helicopter to spray non-harmful bacteria over Shenandoah National Park

LURAY – A helicopter will fly over Shenandoah National Park, spraying down the park from the sky.

The spray will release a naturally occurring bacteria, bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki, as an aerial pesticide against spongy moth caterpillars along sections of Skyline Drive (miles 39 to 51) and in the Skyland and Big Meadows areas.

The bacteria are not harmful to people, plants, or animals, except some insects such as the spongy moth caterpillars. Sunlight also damages the bacteria, limiting worry of long-term environmental issues.

“Over the past two years, spongy moth numbers have grown causing forest defoliation in large areas in the central section of Shenandoah,” reads the press release. “Additional defoliation would likely cause significant tree mortality, which would create safety hazards in high visitor-use areas and damage forest habitats. The goals of the park’s Spongy Moth Suppression Program are to provide visitor safety along Skyline Drive and other developed areas by reducing hazard tree development and to protect sensitive historic and natural areas. These suppression goals will not eliminate spongy moths from the park completely but will minimize their impacts in specific infestation areas.”

Spraying is scheduled to begin Monday, May 13. The spray window includes May 13 through May 17 during daylight hours.

“If the helicopter passes over you while spraying, you will simply feel a light mist,” reads the park’s website. “It is not harmful and can be cleaned with soap and water.”

More information about the spraying and the spongy moth caterpillars is available on the park's website.

Bids open for a list of Staunton projects

STAUNTON – Staunton is looking for contractors on a list of new infrastructure projects.

The first is water and sewer extensions and the second is an elevated water storage tank. Both are located in Staunton Crossing, the ongoing development project near Interstate 81. The two projects were part of, but not the entire, reason for the recent water and sewer utility rate increases, being just two of a long list of infrastructure projects. Bids for both are due by May 20.

A third project, West Beverley Street sidewalk improvements, is out to bid until May 16.

"The project work consists of pedestrian improvements and repaving on and adjacent to West Beverley Street, West Frederick Street, North Jefferson Street, and New Street, as well as repaving along New Hope Road," reads the bid document.

The Cole Avenue stream restoration and sewer project's bid period ends on May 24 at 2 p.m.

“The project consists of approximately 1,240 linear feet of 10-inch sanitary sewer replacement, approximately 1,000 linear feet or stream restoration, installation of an outlet structure, and associated grading and landscape improvements,” reads the bid document.

The final bid is for a different kind of city infrastructure – tourism data.

The project aims “to establish an annual, renewable, term contract with a qualified firm to provide services and software to facilitate, and aid the City’s Tourism Department with data gathering, analysis, marketing research, and reporting of visitation statistics for the City of Staunton. The purpose of the proposal is the need to learn more about who is visiting our destination, where they are going, what is their economic value, how we can influence them, and any opportunity markets available to us so that we can build research-based marketing campaigns that will increase tourism revenues in the City of Staunton.”

Bids for the data project are due May 21.

Click the following links for the project landing pages on Staunton’s website:

• Staunton Crossing Water and Sewer Extensions

• Staunton Crossing Elevated Water Storage Tank

• West Beverley Street Sidewalk Improvements and VDOT SGR Repaving

• Cole Avenue Stream Restoration and Sanitary Sewer

• Tourism Data Gathering, Analysis, Marketing Research, and Reporting Services and Software

Capacitor Incubator Program seeking clever startup ideas

STAUNTON – The Shenandoah Community Capital Fund is seeking startups to transform into successful businesses through its Capacitor Incubator Program.

“Picture our Capacitor Incubator Program as the powerhouse that charges up your entrepreneurial journey,” reads the program announcement. “Like a capacitor storing electrical energy, our program accumulates the essential resources and knowledge you need, creating a powerful surge for the quick and successful launch of your business.”

The program is looking to boost scalable business ideas “focused on traded sectors of food processing, light manufacturing, information technology, and transportation & logistics” The program is for “entrepreneurs who are validating their ideas and working to generate their first $50,000 to $100,000 in revenue.”

Those hoping to be considered for the program can sign up on the online program announcement. The program is free, “thanks to the support of Go Virginia Region 8.”

More information about the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund is available online at https://www.sccfva.org/about.

Shenandoah National Park announces change in leadership

Shenandoah National Park Superintendent Pat Kenney retired April 30 after nearly 34 years in the National Park Service.

“I will leave with many memories of the things that we have accomplished, the experiences I have had in amazing places, and all the great people that I have worked with throughout the Service,” said Kenney. “Looking forward, there are many things I want to do and places I want to experience."

Lewis Rogers, Superintendent at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park has been named interim Superintendent while a permanent replacement is sought.

VDOT traffic alerts for May 13 to May 17

STAUNTON – The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

INTERSTATE 64

• *NEW* Exit 87, westbound – Overnight narrowing of ramps to I-81 northbound and southbound for paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights May 12 – May 22.

• *UPDATE* Mile marker 95 to 98, eastbound – Overnight left lane and right shoulder closures for sign installation work, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Wednesday nights.

• *UPDATE* Mile marker 99, westbound – Right shoulder closures for pipe work, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

INTERSTATE 81

• *UPDATE* Mile marker 205 to 211, northbound and southbound – Shoulder closures for pipe work and shoulder repairs, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

• Mile marker 214 to 210, southbound – Alternating lane closures for milling and paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through July 25. Exit 213 traffic will be detoured during ramp paving.

• Mile marker 220 to 222, northbound and southbound – Left and right shoulder closures for median access related to bridge work, 24/7 through September 30.

• *NEW* Mile marker 221 to 222, northbound – Overnight right lane closures and narrowing of exit 221 ramp to I-64 for paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights May 12 – May 22.

• *UPDATE* Mile marker 221 to 227, northbound and southbound – Overnight left lane closures for installation of concrete barriers, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through May 30. Following barrier placement, left shoulder closures remain in place 24/7 through spring 2026. Work is related to I-81 widening project.

PRIMARY ROADS

• Route 11 (Lee Highway) – Northbound right lane closures between Route 940 (Dick Huff Lane) and Staunton city limits for sidewalk installation, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through May 24.

• Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 772 (Sulfur Pump Road) and Route 865 (Rockfish Road) for maintenance to bridge over Middle River, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through June 14.

• Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) – Flagger traffic control near Rockingham County line (Grottoes western town limits) for maintenance to bridge over South River, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Friday.

• *NEW* Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) – Southbound overnight lane closures along ramp to northbound I-81 (at Exit 220) for paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights May 12 – May 22.

• Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) – Eastbound and westbound left shoulder closures due to widening project in the area of the Route 252 (Middlebrook Avenue) interchange, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. through May 25.

SECONDARY ROADS

• Route 612 (Laurel Hill Road) – Westbound right lane and shoulder closures between Route 818 (Dunsmore Road) and Route 1906 (Lodge Lane) for milling at various entrances, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through May 27. Work related to Verona pedestrian improvement project.

• Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through May 30, 2025.

• Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Follow posted detour. Expected completion summer 2025.

• Route 664 (Mount Torrey Road) – Temporary lane closures between Route 624 (Lyndhurst Road) and Route 814 (Love Road) for overhead utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Thursday.

• Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through June 30, 2025.

• Route 675 (Broadhead School Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 11 (Lee Jackson Highway) and Route 919 (Old Providence Road) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Thursday.

• Route 708 (Glebe School Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 711 (Miller Farm Road) and Route 710 (Eidson Creek Road) for maintenance to bridge over Eidson Creek, through Thursday. Follow posted detour.

• Route 876 (Glebe School Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 713 (Shuey Road) and Route 602 (Summerdean Road) for utility work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Thursday.

• Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for drainage work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton paving, helicopter park spraying: THE DIGEST